Skimmers
Skimmers, the common name for the approximately 105 species in the Libellulidae family, constitute the largest dragonfly family in the United States.
The family divides into twenty-six different genera, and within family diversity makes it difficult to provide a comprehensive identification tips guide.
Species identification begins by finding them and then following a few general identification rules of thumb. Finding them can be a relatively simple task. Most live in and around slow moving water areas such as ponds and wetlands.
Identification of any species starts with a close examination of the color and arrangement of the markings on the face, thorax, abdomen and wings. All four physical features represent field identification clues that need to be considered together.
On a more general level, many Libellulidae females tend to have a brown colored abdomen.
Libellulidae males tend to be more colorful than the females. The meadowhawk group, for example, consists of red, or off color red, males and brown or off color brown females.
Blue, another popular dragonfly color, also causes identification confusion.
The top picture, for example, demonstrates the problem associated with using color as the only field identification mark.
Both the male Blue Dasher and male Western Pondhawk have blue abdomens. The dragonfly in the picture has a blue abdomen.
Knowing that pondhawks also have a green nose and thorax eliminates them from consideration. Knowing that the male Blue Dasher has a white nose and yellow stripes on the thorax suggests that the dragonfly in the picture is a male Blue Dasher.
Many skimmers also show shades of red in their bodies. The Roseate Skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea), one of two dragonfly representatives in the Orthemis genus, ranges through much of the Southern United States from Florida to California.
Like most skimmers, it prefers small, slow moving water bodies.
The second picture shows the red-bodied male.
Like other skimmers, the female has a brown body. The bottom picture shows a female with the white stripe on the thorax and top part of the abdomen.
Thirty-nine Libellulidae species, divided into eighteen genera, are listed in the box on the right. Click on any link to learn more about the species.
© 2007-2011. Patricia A. Michaels